Aa
Is this all really from anxiety?
So this all started about 12 months ago when I was out for dinner. Out of nowhere I felt this wave of dizziness/disconnectedness, almost like I might pass out. I went home and checked my BP, which was high but I have been dealing with high BP for a few years now. The most alrming thing was the dizziness and feeling like I might pass out, and with the high blood pressure I immediatly think heart attack or some other horrible heart issue. So after imagining myself laying on the floor clutching my chest until I possibly died (I lived alone at the time), I decided to go to the ER. They ran tests, did blood work and chest x-rays which all came back normal. They told me it was due to high blood pressure and sent me home later that evening.
The following week I went to my doctor and he put me on BP medication which helped bring down the BP to within normal range. So fast forward 12 months and these are all the symptoms I've been dealing with since then.
On and off I feel lightheaded throughout the day. There are times when it feels like either the veins or lymph nodes on both sides of my neck are swollen, its like an uncomfortable pressure. My chest feels like there is a slight amount of pressure in the center on the breastbone. When I bend over sometimes my head feels like it is really full of blood. There are also times when it feels like I can't fully inhale, like I can't take a full breath. There are times when I talk to people and it feels like I might run out of breath and it's like I can't wait for the conversation to end so I can take a deap breath and feel somewhat normal. During these conversations my face will also feel like its almost paralized, even though I can talk, but it is this wierd numb awkward feeling. My ears also feel like they are slightly plugged, as if I need to pop my ears but they won't pop, which is incredibly annoying.
I'm sure there are some other strange symptoms I have forgotten since my memory and ability to even think clearly has been hindered due to all this, but from what I've read other people have had similar symptoms. Is it really possible that this is all due to anxiety? I have never had issues with anxiety before but I know that these things can come on without any past history of anxiety.
Oh and I should also add that, thanks to the internet and my obsessive search for why I feel this way, I have diagnosed myself with anxiety, hiatal hernia, lung cancer, heart failure, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, Lyme disease, candida overgrowth, coronary artery disease, GERD and a bunch of other things I can't remember at the moment. Honestly, I just want to feel normal again, I wouldnt even care if it was something worse than anxiety just as long as i know what it is.
Thanks for listening, sorry it was so long.
The following week I went to my doctor and he put me on BP medication which helped bring down the BP to within normal range. So fast forward 12 months and these are all the symptoms I've been dealing with since then.
On and off I feel lightheaded throughout the day. There are times when it feels like either the veins or lymph nodes on both sides of my neck are swollen, its like an uncomfortable pressure. My chest feels like there is a slight amount of pressure in the center on the breastbone. When I bend over sometimes my head feels like it is really full of blood. There are also times when it feels like I can't fully inhale, like I can't take a full breath. There are times when I talk to people and it feels like I might run out of breath and it's like I can't wait for the conversation to end so I can take a deap breath and feel somewhat normal. During these conversations my face will also feel like its almost paralized, even though I can talk, but it is this wierd numb awkward feeling. My ears also feel like they are slightly plugged, as if I need to pop my ears but they won't pop, which is incredibly annoying.
I'm sure there are some other strange symptoms I have forgotten since my memory and ability to even think clearly has been hindered due to all this, but from what I've read other people have had similar symptoms. Is it really possible that this is all due to anxiety? I have never had issues with anxiety before but I know that these things can come on without any past history of anxiety.
Oh and I should also add that, thanks to the internet and my obsessive search for why I feel this way, I have diagnosed myself with anxiety, hiatal hernia, lung cancer, heart failure, COPD, pulmonary hypertension, Lyme disease, candida overgrowth, coronary artery disease, GERD and a bunch of other things I can't remember at the moment. Honestly, I just want to feel normal again, I wouldnt even care if it was something worse than anxiety just as long as i know what it is.
Thanks for listening, sorry it was so long.
O.m.g im really really in the same boat.... Everything u mention i feel.. 4days ago i went to go get a bloodwork to see if i have any lyme disease im waiting for my results.. I had all those dizziness like fainting, head pressure, ear ringing, heart race, chest pain middle bone, muscle twitching, ears clog like they going to pop, i feel like im going to get a stoke, i dont know what to think my neck feels stiff, tension list goes on and on and on.... U haven't been diagnose with BP. But i Think is allllll anxiety.. Trust me.. Ugh only if ee can control our anxiety i think we can but is hard.. Lol just relax please.. Therapy can help you.. I worry so muchh i need to stop being so panic.. God bless you and just know u will be cure..
Hey there man, don't fret over the symptoms because yes, anxiety can create some doozies and many of them.
When you bend over, the feeling of your head filling up with blood is normal, because more blood goes to your head via gravity.
The feeling of not being able to get a full breath can be brought on by stress or anxiety, because when you stress or get rather anxious, you naturally tense up all over, including your chest wall muscles and hence, the feeling of not getting a full breath. You can breath fine, you're just tensed up.
Its good that you have your blood pressure managed though.
A lot of people complain of some sort of numbness if they are highly anxious. So that is pretty common amongst people, nothing to worry over. Also, memory can be easily affected by high anxiety, certainly. You need to take a breather, refrain from any Googling about symptoms and just take some time to yourself to wind down and RELAX. Do it everyday. Don't go around researching symptoms, because the internet as you clearly know, is an abundant source of medical information and symptom diagnoses. If anything, research something like "list of anxiety symptoms" not "chest pressure, trouble breathing, high blood pressure" etc. Quit that Googling habit for good. If you have valid concerns, go to a doctor and ask.
There are many therapy programs that can resolve anxiety, and if you need to, you may want to look into them. Talking things out on a forum can be very effective too, lots are on here to chat with you about it so rest assured.
Don't worry, you will feel normal again - it just takes some time to get over this but you will.
Best regards!
When you bend over, the feeling of your head filling up with blood is normal, because more blood goes to your head via gravity.
The feeling of not being able to get a full breath can be brought on by stress or anxiety, because when you stress or get rather anxious, you naturally tense up all over, including your chest wall muscles and hence, the feeling of not getting a full breath. You can breath fine, you're just tensed up.
Its good that you have your blood pressure managed though.
A lot of people complain of some sort of numbness if they are highly anxious. So that is pretty common amongst people, nothing to worry over. Also, memory can be easily affected by high anxiety, certainly. You need to take a breather, refrain from any Googling about symptoms and just take some time to yourself to wind down and RELAX. Do it everyday. Don't go around researching symptoms, because the internet as you clearly know, is an abundant source of medical information and symptom diagnoses. If anything, research something like "list of anxiety symptoms" not "chest pressure, trouble breathing, high blood pressure" etc. Quit that Googling habit for good. If you have valid concerns, go to a doctor and ask.
There are many therapy programs that can resolve anxiety, and if you need to, you may want to look into them. Talking things out on a forum can be very effective too, lots are on here to chat with you about it so rest assured.
Don't worry, you will feel normal again - it just takes some time to get over this but you will.
Best regards!
Thanks for the reply, I am still surprised that anxiety can cause this many physical symptoms. I guess since I am new to this anxiety thing I need reassurance that I'm not the only one with these strange things going on. I am working on just ignoring them and finding things to distract myself. I do find that going to the gym or jogging 4 or 5 miles helps me feel better for awhile afterwards. I also started taking SAM-E which I think is helping some as well.
It's good to hear that other people are dealing with the same type of symptoms, not that anxiety is good but it makes me feel better that I'm not alone in this crazy thiing. I hate that anxiety can manifest in physical ways but I know that the more I dwell on it the worse it gets.
Although I'm sad to hear you are going through this, I'm relieved to hear about the responses you got about the ear plugginess, facial paralysis, because those are two symptoms of mine I forgot until you mentioned them. I truly can't believe ( but now I do) what this kind of extreme anxiety physically does to the body. I never knew the power of my mind.
Although I'm sad to hear you are going through this, I'm relieved to hear about the responses you got about the ear plugginess, facial paralysis, because those are two symptoms of mine I forgot until you mentioned them. I truly can't believe ( but now I do) what this kind of extreme anxiety physically does to the body. I never knew the power of my mind.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
